Theater staple dies, love for the arts lives on

Friday

Jan 10, 2014 at 9:00 AM

By Annette.Manwell@hollandsentinel.com(616) 546-4270

Ruth Burkholder was described by a longtime friend as magical, a caring teacher, never negative and a priceless treasure.“Ruthie,” as her friend Gail Herring called her, was 77. She died at home Wednesday.“When I first moved here, Ruthie's name was synonymous with Holland Civic Theatre,” Hering said. Burkholder and a few others “were the backbone of the Holland Civic Theatre.”Burkholder was involved with the theater for several years and was president of the organization for some time.Hering moved to the area in 1975 and met Burkholder soon after, becoming involved with the theater herself. Herring talked Thursday about Burkholder's love of children, how she was an elementary school music teacher and her drive to start Avalon School of the Arts in Holland Township with her daughter-in-law, Marie Burkholder.“Ruthie is such a special person,” Herring said. “She never said a bad thing about anyone or anything. She was never negative.”The way she was with children “was magical,” Herring said, adding she wanted children to be exposed to and love the arts the way she did.“I don't know if she loved children or arts more, but it doesn't matter,” Herring said.Burkholder would wake up at 5 a.m., shovel the snow in front of the theater, teach music to children and be somehow involved in four different plays, her friend said.“She was an amazing, amazing woman who never blew her own horn.”Burkholder leaves behind her only child, Rich, his wife Marie and their two children. Arrangements will be announced later by Lakeshore Memorial Services of Holland.Avalon School of the Arts will continue on, Herring said. Rich is a musician. Marie is a teacher. On one of her last good days, Ruthie talked about the legacy of the school, Herring said.“She was a quiet, priceless treasure,” Herring said.— Follow this reporter on Facebook or Twitter, @SentinelNetty.